Fujifilm Users; Did The Last Camera Firmware Update Help With The Autofocus Inconsistency Issue In Some Cameras?

The Dolly Parton statue in front of the courthouse in her hometown of Pidgeon
Forge, Tennessee.  If you ask me, it doesn't look anything like her, either when 
she was younger or now.  But who am I to judge? (click to enlarge)

For those of you who regularly read my blog, you may remember about the many posts I had written over the last couple of years about the autofocus inconsistency issue suffered by several models of Fujifilm cameras.  Not only during my testing did I identify this issue, but subsequent to my posts, I received many comments and private emails by other Fujifilm users, who indicated they suffered from the same AF consistency issues as well.  In fact, several of those who contacted me told me they were selling their Fujifilm gear because of this issue.

Very concisely, the issue of which I wrote was that with the wider the focal length and the deeper the depth of field (the more the lens is stoped down), a slight variation in focus accuracy occurred when looking at several identically focused exposures.   Repeatedly autofocusing on the same subject at the same distance would result in the camera’s focusing distance being slightly different, some accurately focused and others either slightly front focusing or back focusing to render images that were not as sharp as they should be.  The AF focusing scale reflected the variation as well. (I recommend turning off that feature permanently as it doesn’t work well and will give you false impressions.)  It was a frustrating issue for me, as well as others. 

On September 21st, 2023, Fujifilm announced a number of firmware updates for the X-H2, X-H2S, X-T5 and X-S20. A portion of the firmware update, according to Fujifilm, addresses the following:

“AF accuracy is improved with the following focus settings and shooting conditions.

・FOCUS MODE：AF-S / AF-C
・AF MODE：SINGLE POINT
・Lens used：Wide-angle lens
・Photography subject：High-frequency subjects such as animal hair, fine leaves, or low-contrast subjects.”

That intrigued me to believe that maybe, quietly, Fujifilm is acknowledging the issue and has been working on it. But I don’t know.

Since purchasing X-T5 and X-H2S, which both have new sensors as well as the new image processor, I have not had any of those focus inaccuracy and inconsistency issues at all. I’ve tested both of my cameras and I am happy to say both cameras focus accurately and consistently.  The bottom line is I am not able to test whether or not this new firmware addresses the auto focus in consistency issue previously identified.

If any of you who are Fujifilm users have one of the above mentioned cameras that exhibit this AF issue would like to test before and after to see if there’s improvement, I would love to hear from you in the comments below. I am sure of the many others who have dealt with this problem would like to hear from you as well.

I thank you in advance.

Looking at the statue from a completely different angle and showing a bit of the commercial district
across the street from the courthouse square.  Pidgeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg, all located
near an entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, comprised of unbelievable traffic, out of
control retail and entertainment venues and more restaurants than at which you could eat in a year!
I don't plan to ever go back there.  It is just so overbuilt and junky.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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